When you are taking any NSAID, you should be aware of the right dosage, how to use the drug and what if you overdose the drug. Knowing about the symptoms of overdose can help you take immediate action to treat the side effects of overdose. Let us learn about the Ibuprofen dosage and the treatment given in case of overdose.
Dosing Information
Adult dose – Dysmenorrhea
200-400mg to be taken orally after every 4-6 hours as required
Adult dose – Osteoarthritis
Initial dose
400-800mg to be taken orally after every 6-8 hours
Maintenance dose
Can be increased to maximum 3200 mg as daily dose based on patient’s tolerance and response.
Adult dose – Rheumatoid Arthritis
Initial dose
400-800mg to be taken orally after every 6-8 hours
Maintenance dose
Can be increased to maximum 3200 mg as daily dose based on patient’s tolerance and response.
Normal adult dose – Pain
Oral
Mild- moderate pain- 200-400mg to be taken orally as required. Doses exceeding 400mg have not been considered in order to provide greater effects.
Normal adult dose – Fever
200-400mg to be taken orally after every 4-6 hours as required.
Normal Pediatric dose – Fever
Above 6 months up to 12 months
5mg/kg – dose for temperature below 102.5 degrees F- to be taken orally after every 6-8 hours as required.
10mg/kg- dose for temperature above or equal to 102.5 degree F- to be taken orally after every 6-8 hours as required.
Overdose treatment – Ibuprofen
Do not exceed the dose of Ibuprofen than recommended. An overdose of Ibuprofen can harm your intestines and stomach. Use Ibuprofen in small doses to get rid of swelling, pain or fever.
In case of overdose, contact your medical help immediately. Overdose symptoms can be
- Pain
- Drowsiness
- Bloody or black stools
- Fainting
- Coma
- Shallow breathing
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
If you observe some rare side-effects that can be as a result of Ibuprofen overdose. Call you emergency help immediately. You can contact poison control company. In case of overdose the patient is given gastrointestinal decontamination treatment, using 1g/kg of activated charcoal. It becomes difficult to treat the patient if Ibuprofen ingestion lasts for more than 1 hour. It is important to know that Ibuprofen overdose in children can cause seizures, emesis is not suggested to be induced at this stage of overdose. The symptoms occur within four hours of ingestion so the patient needs to be monitored at least during that period.
If Ibuprofen overdose is higher than 400mg/kg, it is recommended that patient should be hospitalized and should be kept under doctor’s observation. Some of the basic and immediate lab tests conducted is arterial blood gas, BUN, electrolyte levels and liver function tests. It is always suggested that in case of overdose do not try self help ideas or home remedies as it can be fatal. The more time is passed, the more complications will arise and sometimes it becomes difficult to treat Ibuprofen overdose. So always ask for emergency medical help to avoid risks.